#1Corinthians3 - Three Little Pigs in the Bible?

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 3:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

As Paul describes his work in the kingdom of God, he uses language of building and construction. He reminds us that there is only one foundation - Jesus Christ, and everyone is secure on that foundation. However, he also teaches us that there will be a day when everyone will be called to judgement and held accountable for every one of our actions. Our actions, our attitudes, and how we invest our lives in general can be seen as how we each build our lives on the foundation of Jesus. Paul lists several different materials, some that would withstand the test of fire, and some that would burn up. Some of our deeds amount to nothing of eternal significance and will be burned up. Others that give God glory and express his love to the world will not only withstand the test but will shine with eternal significance. I really can't help but think of the three little pigs, who built their houses out of different materials. Some held up to the test of the Big Bad Wolf, and others didn't. :)

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In the first few verses, Paul encourages the believers to move on to maturity, comparing them to a toddler who is still drinking milk when they should be eating solid food. Another interesting comparison is that a child who is eating solid foods is also able to feed themselves. I think this is also a mark of spiritual maturity, that someone is not totally dependent on someone else to nourish them spiritually. Rather they are able to read the Scriptures themselves, and seek out other ways to be fed and nourished by God's word. This concept reminded me of Hebrews 6:1-3, where the writer encourages the believers to move beyond elementary teachings of the faith and move on towards maturity. It's like saying, "Okay, we've mastered addition, subtraction, and letter sounds. We've been dwelling on it far too long, it's time to move to the 3rd grade to bigger and better things."

3. What does this mean for my life?

The part that caught my attention on a really personal level was 1 Colossians 3:16-17. Paul explains that because God's Spirit lives within us, our bodies are God's temple. I think this is one of the most compelling biblical concepts advocating health and wellness at least in a general sense. There are obviously some things that we can't control that happen to us, but there are SO MANY things we can do to care for our bodies, including sleeping enough, eating healthy, not eating too much, drinking enough water, exercising, taking time to rest and de-stress, refraining from too much alcohol or substance use (or any for that matter), and many other daily decisions affecting our health. Caring for our bodies enables God to use us more for his purposes, and hopefully for a longer time in this life. Verse 17 references that together we are God's temple, but I don't think it is a stretch at all to take it personally as well.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I wonder what things Paul would consider to be elementary versus more mature as far as Christian teaching and living. The Hebrews passage mentioned above sheds some light on that, I suppose. I also wonder what Paul would say to churches today. If he would say, "Wow, 2000 years have passed and we still haven't moved passed ______!" Or if he would say, "Well done, we have moved the church into a mature body of Christ." I think either way, he would encourage us to keep digging deeper. :)

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians2 - A Mystery Revealed

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 2:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

After saying in chapter one that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, Paul then goes on to explain that it is not foolish at all. Rather, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was actually what God had planned "before time began." It was simply a mystery to all, even though God spoke about it through the Scriptures and the prophets. It just didn't make sense from a human perspective, but from God's perspective it was the perfect and only plan to redeem mankind from a fallen state of sin. It's like reading a mystery and not really knowing for sure what's going on until the final clues are discovered and the mystery is revealed.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Paul also talks about the gospel being a mystery in Colossians 1:25-27, which says, "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." He explains that the mystery is not only that Christ would die for our sins, but that he would rise from the dead, and through the power of the Holy Spirit dwell within us - his people. That is still bizarre, a mystery in it's own way, but the plan is now clear.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I really appreciate how Paul begins this chapter, humbly stating that it wasn't with any human wisdom that he came. He simply shared the wisdom of God through God's word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He didn't win people over with super speeches, but simply with the loving message of the gospel. I hope and pray that I would have that same humble approach to sharing the gospel, that God's wisdom would guide me and that I would not try to sound super spiritual on my own. Rather, I want to simply point people to Jesus and his love for us.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What did Paul mean when he said in verse 15, "The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments..."?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians1 - Foolishness!

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 1:

Yesterday concluded my walk through the gospels. Since I have already done Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, my plan is to read 1 and 2 Corinthians, then pick up in 1 Thessalonians and read the rest of the way through the New Testament. That will take us into August sometime, when we will blow the dust off of the Old Testament and dig into the treasures God has for us there. :)

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." It's interesting to me that the message of the cross would be seen as foolishness to anyone. To me it seems like a heroic rescue or a love story, but when I think about it, almost every good thing in this world comes from the reward of good, hard work and positive performance. We work hard in school, and we get good grades and scholarships. We perform well in sports or music and we receive awards, honors, and opportunities for advancement. We work hard and perform well in work, and we receive a promotion or a raise. However the gospel message is not about rewards for hard work, it is about trusting in the perfect work and person of Jesus Christ to forgive our sins, restore our relationship with our heavenly Father, and fill us with the Holy Spirit. From the world's perspective, that just doesn't make sense.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Verse 25 reminds me a lot of Isaiah 55:8-11, which says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..." Even God's foolishness is wiser than our wisdom. So what seems foolish to the world might just be the wisdom and plan of God.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Paul encouraged the people in Corinth not to claim any person as the one they follow except Christ. It was clear that whether they were taught primarily by Paul, Apollos, Peter, or another apostle, that they should still be unified and proclaim to follow Christ. I have experienced lots of different teachings from different people, and while I agreed with some more than others, I appreciated having that variety. Overall it has strengthened my faith and helped me. But as long as Christ is proclaimed, we should see how we can be more unified in the other things.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

This isn't really a question, but I'd like to know more about Apollos. The first book I read through doing this chapter a day was Acts, and I know that it explains a bit about him in Acts 18, but what exactly was he preaching, and what happened to him after this?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John20 #John21 - Believe it or not...

Click here to read John 20-21:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

The ending of these two chapters are like little "asides" from the actual story of Jesus. The end of chapter 21 reveals that what we see as recorded in John is not the whole picture. It is an accurate account from an eyewitness, but it does not contain the complete works of Jesus Christ. We know some of the other things, because different eyewitnesses (as recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain some of the same stories but also some different ones. I love how he says, "If every one of [Jesus' works] were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25). I also really like at the end of chapter 20 that John even tells us the purpose for writing his gospel account, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John wasn't writing for fame, he wasn't writing for profit; he was writing so everyone who read it would believe in Jesus and receive salvation.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

When I read the story about the miraculous catch of fish, I think back to the beginning of Jesus' ministry when he called the disciples to be fishers of people. It's funny that it begins and wraps up with fish. I don't know that it is incredibly profound, but just interesting.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I really relate to Peter. Just a couple chapters ago, Peter denied Jesus three times after pledging his lifelong support for Jesus. Here in chapter 21, we see Jesus ask Peter three times if he loves him. Jesus knows that Peter loves him, so I think that this exchange is actually more for Peter to be assured that Jesus has forgiven him and restores him to his kingdom work. I know that in my life, I blow it sometimes. There are days, even in the midst of doing ministry, that I feel unworthy to have God use me to change people's lives. But I know that Jesus does forgive sins, and he does claim us as his brothers and sisters and colaborers in the work of God's kingdom. So even though I mess up, Jesus qualifies me to keep on moving forward.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

As I read these chapters, which include multiple descriptions of Jesus appearing to the disciples after his resurrection, my silly question is, "What did Jesus look like after he was raised from the dead?" He must have been in human form, because he still had hands, feet, a recognizable voice, etc. But Mary didn't recognize him at first, the disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't recognize him, the disciples gathered behind locked doors seemed to need some extra convincing, and the disciples at the beach didn't dare ask who he was. There must have been something that was unrecognizable to his face or figure, because it seemed to take people a little while.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John18 #John19 - The darkest day in history

Click here to read John 18-19:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?


These two chapters flow seamlessly together to tell the story of Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial. This is the fourth gospel I have now gone through, and this is the fourth account of this part of the story I have read recently. It's not fun. It's hard to read how cruel the leaders were to Jesus, how hard-hearted they were towards God, and how persistently they persecuted him. It was not a pretty picture. In fact, it's safe to say that it was the darkest day in history. There have been others, but putting the Son of God to death seems to top them all. Despite the fact that it was his plan to allow himself to be killed, it was still the sin of all people that he bore on the cross. It's easy to see the ugliness in the people who were plotting against him and shouting "Crucify," but it reminds me that there is an ugly part of me (my sinful nature) that I still need God to take away and transform.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Pilate wrote a sign above Jesus that said "The King of the Jews." The Jewish leaders didn't like it, because they wanted it to say, "This man claimed to be the king of the Jews." But Pilate refused to change it. While here on earth Jesus talked a lot about his kingdom and the Father's kingdom, but he doesn't directly claim to be the king. However, in Revelation 17:14 and 19:16, Jesus is given the title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords that he deserves.

3. What does this mean for my life?

On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas and deserted by the other disciples, he was denied by Peter, one of his closest friends. I think about Peter a lot, how he made bold claims to follow Jesus to the end and fight for him at all costs. Still he ended up denying Christ three times. I feel like that sometimes. I am bold about my faith in Christ at times, and other times I may shy away from sharing it. I want to be not ashamed of the gospel, as Paul says in Romans 1:16, but I am thankful that Jesus even uses someone like Peter to grow the church.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

My biggest question is, "Did Pilate really believe in Jesus?" In this account, it seemed like he almost became a believer in who Jesus was, but felt powerless to do anything besides sentence him to death. Still, he was the one who had to make the decision, and he caved into the pressure of the crowds.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John16 #John17 - Wisdom from a Stone

Click here to read John 16-17:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

At Ingham Lake Bible Camp stands a chapel building that was built in 1949, even before the first official camp was held. In the front corner of the building, before you walk in the door, there is a verse inscribed on the cornerstone. It comes from John 17:17 and says, "Sanctify them by thy truth; Thy word is truth." That verse has been a prayer and a desire among staff for all who come to experience God at Ingham. I understand sanctification to describe a life-long transformation that takes place when we let God shape us to become more like Jesus. That happens when we are immersed in the truth of God's word, which can be encouraging or convicting, freeing or guiding, revealing or teaching. We need to keep God's word in the center.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In John 17:3 and 17:26, it talks about eternal life as knowing God, and then making him known is a natural byproduct. Besides being the mission statement of Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps, "To know Jesus Christ, and to make Christ known to all", it reminds me of Philippians 3. Paul is describing the things of this world as rubbish and a loss, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Jesus talks a lot about the Holy Spirit in these chapters. One of the things he says is that "when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." As I seek God's truth for my life to be transformed, I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who will guide me into truth.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Jesus prays at the end of chapter 17 that all believers would be one, that we would be brought together in complete unity. Well, that's not what I see happening today. My question is, what does Jesus mean by oneness and unity. Where does it leave room for different interpretations of Scripture? Where does it leave room for different worship practices? Where does it leave room for different emphases in church life? Maybe it doesn't, but it's not very clear then. How then are we supposed to be totally unified?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

#John15 - Jesus the Spiritual Botanist

Click here to read John 15:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

When Jesus rises from the dead, Mary and the other women actually encounter him after speaking to the angel. Before they realize it's Jesus, they mistake him for the gardener. After reading this chapter, they weren't that far off. I have always been into analogies, because it really causes people to think about spiritual things in common language. The education major in me is jumping for joy at the "higher order thinking skills" that this requires. Jesus sets up this comparison between a vine and some branches. He reminds his disciples that if a branch is not connected to the vine, it cannot produce fruit. He reminds us that we must be connected with the Father through him and that we must obey his commands.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

One thought that really didn't seem to immediately fit with the gardening analogy is when Jesus says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." It is clear that Jesus never intends for life to be boring. Rather when we are following him and obeying his commands, he tells us that we can be full of joy. This reminded me of Psalm 51, where David (in the middle of repenting and confessing) says, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." There is joy in following Jesus.

3. What does this mean for my life?

This chapter is very convicting. It is a direct reminder to stay connected with God despite a busy schedule. This happens through prayer, scripture reading, worship, fellowship, serving others, loving the people I am in relationship with, enjoying what God has blessed me with, using the gifts God has given me to the best of my abilities, giving generously, and other things. I was also reminded that remaining connected to the vine and bearing fruit comes with a promise that we will be pruned to produce more fruit. If branches could talk, I don't think they would tell us that pruning is particularly pleasant. However, I bet they would say it is always worth it.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I actually don't have any questions about this chapter.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John11 #John12 #John13 #John14 - More Marthas please

Click here to read John 11-14:

With some internet difficulties over the last couple days, I was unable to post anything until now. The beauty of this method and these questions are that you can use them for any length of reading, no matter how short or long. It's easy to play "catch-up." With that in mind, here are my thoughts on John chapters 11-14.

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Right off the bat in John 11 we get the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Some people might not realize that the Mary and Martha of this story are also the Mary and Martha that host Jesus when he "scolds" Martha for worrying about household chores. I feel like Martha always gets a bad reputation for being a workaholic and worrywart. But in this story, we can see that Martha's faith is far from lacking. In fact she makes a clear, bold claim that few others in Scripture say so definitively. She says, "I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask...Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." So rather than chide Martha, this story lifts her up as a woman of incredible faith. I wish we had more Martha's in this world.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Philippians 2, Paul spends much time describing the humility of Jesus, who understood that God was greater than he was, who humbled himself by becoming a man, and who became like a servant - giving his life to others until his dying breath. I don't know of many other chapters in Scripture that show this characteristic in Jesus than John 13. Jesus does the job that usually a slave or servant would do, and he washes the dirty feet of the disciples. He also shares that if Jesus, their Lord and leader, gives his life in service to others, then they too should take on the same approach. And they do. As the church sparks in Acts 2, we find the disciples sharing what they have to care for the poor. They are following in the footsteps of Jesus.

3. What does this mean for my life?

In John 12:24 Jesus says, "...unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." He then talks about following Jesus to mean serving him and losing your life for him. I don't think he is only talking about dying, like a martyr in a persecuted country. I think his is talking about living your life for God - keeping his kingdom purposes at the forefront of your life and devoting time, energy, and resources to do what God has called you to do. The apostle Paul uses the analogy of being "poured out like a drink offering" to describe how he is spending/investing his life for God's purposes.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

In John 14:13-14, Jesus says, "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." What does he mean by "anything"? I would guess he means anything, but why don't things happen when we pray in Jesus's name? I know some, even many, prayers are answered, but there are a lot left unanswered or the answer is no. So is it because we ask without enough faith? any faith? Is it because of sin in our life? Does "anything" mean "anything that God already wants to do?" I'm just not sure. In the meantime, I'm going to keep praying boldly in Jesus' name and watching for God's hand at work.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John10 - Voice Recognition

Click here to read John 10:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

"When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:4-5 NIV)" This really stood out to me, to know that sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. To know the voice of the Father = knowing the voice of Jesus = knowing the promptings of the Holy Spirit = knowing God's Word (the Bible).

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

It's interesting to me to hear Jesus talk about other sheep that are not yet here. There remains to be people to gather into the flock. He then talks about there being one flock, and he will be the shepherd. In John 17, Jesus prays for unity, that there would be a oneness among believers just as he and the Father are one. The Bible also talks about "Gentiles" which basically describes anyone who was not Jewish by birth. From the beginning God's plan was to make salvation available to them too. Isaiah 49:6 says, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

3. What does this mean for my life?

I think more than being a political-type leader, picturing Jesus as a shepherd is a very comforting thought. A political leader sets policies and works from an office. A shepherd leads by mere presence. A shepherd walks with and talks with his sheep. A shepherd protects his sheep. A shepherd loves his sheep. That's the kind of leader I want to follow.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I have thought about this in general while reading the gospels, but I wonder how much time passes between each section or chapter or event recorded in the gospels. Verse 22 says, "Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter..." So between verse 21 and 22, was it days that passed? Weeks? Months? He seems to talk about almost exactly the same thing, so my gut instinct is that not much time passed. I just think it's interesting to know that Jesus spent about 3 years in ministry, but we don't know much about the timing of each event.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John9 - Was blind but now I see!

Click here to read John 9:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

This chapter centers on a man born blind and his encounter with Jesus. Everyone in the story except Jesus misconstrues the man's "misfortune" as a punishment for something. The disciples assume that it was either he or his parents who sinned. The Pharisees remind him that he was steeped in sin from birth. Jesus is the only one that sees this man for who he is - a beloved creation of God. Jesus heals this man, but since it is on a Sabbath the Pharisees go nuts and grill the guy about Jesus. I love that he asks them if they want to be his disciples too. This man has a testimony that no one can argue with, and in sharing it he is pointing people to Jesus. He is the author of one lyrical line in "Amazing Grace." He says, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Jesus likes to heal on the Sabbath. Well, actually he likes to heal all the time, and some of those times happened to be the Sabbath. He was proving that there is no end, no pausing, no break for God's desire to help people. Yes, we should stop working on the Sabbath, but when someone needs help it is always time to help them. Here are some other accounts of Jesus healing on the Sabbath: Mark 3, Luke 13, and John 5.

3. What does this mean for my life?

It's easy to try to rationalize why certain things happen, but from a human perspective we are severely limited in our reasoning. Almost every time something bad happens, or someone goes through a challenging time, some well-meaning Christian says something like, "Everything happens for a reason." That kind of reminds me of the disciples. At best, that statement is not helpful. At worst, it leaves people to figure out why they are being punished. Perhaps the reason is you made a dumb choice not to study and now you're failing the test. Perhaps the reason is that this world is just broken. People get sick. Natural disasters happen. Employers have to make hard decisions. But I believe that no matter what the reason (if there is one), God wants to reveal himself to us more in every circumstance. He wants us to trust him in the midst of hardships. He wants to comfort us in times of loss. He wants to be our hope in times of despair. He wants to be our rock and refuge when the world is shifting all around us. I need to remember to turn to God in all circumstances.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I always wondered why Jesus spit in the dirt to make mud and then put it in someone's eyes. Why didn't he just touch his eyes, or speak it over the man? It's kind of gross. However, if I knew it would make me see, I wouldn't care at all. I would just want him to do it.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John8 - Children of the devil!

Click here to read John 8:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

For anyone who just thinks that Jesus was a mild-mannered wimp in a white dress kissing babies and walking with sheep all the time, they do not know Jesus. John 8 is a prime display of the powerful paradox of Jesus' compassion and Jesus' strength and fortitude. Jesus is trying to teach the people about the unique relationship between himself and God the Father. The Pharisees come and challenge him with question after question. The ironic thing is that they are asking the right questions, they are just not willing to accept the answers Jesus gives. Because of their hard hearts, Jesus says that they if they were really Abraham's children, then they would believe in him. Instead he says they are children of the devil! That's harsh. Dem's fightin' words.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Jesus talks about being a slave to sin, but if we believe in him we are set free from the bondage of sin. There are other passages that also talk about being a slave to sin and finding freedom in Christ. Romans 6 talks about being freed from slavery to sin and offering ourselves as slaves to righteousness. Galatians 3:22-5:1 also talks about this issue. Anyone who has struggled with sinful addictions would verify right away that slavery to sin is a good way to describe our natural tendancies to please ourselves. The only way to be free is to receive a new life in Christ.

3. What does this mean for my life?

In the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, Jesus shines as he wins the day with grace and restores the woman back to the truth. Jesus did not walk around in judgment over others, but he always spoke the truth. He never sugar coated God's plan for life, and he never watered down God's commands. But he stood in direct contrast to the Pharisees who were quick to throw stones (literally) at someone who sinned. Jesus knew while he was here on earth, people didn't need another judge to walk around and tell them what they did was wrong. He knew we would all stand before the judge one day to give an account for our life. He knew we didn't just need another teacher to explain why adultery was wrong. He knew we needed a Savior, someone to free us from slavery to sin. So he did that. I need to also remember that although it's important that we all know and understand God's word to the best of our abilities, we should exercise grace and even stand up for others.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

At the very end of the chapter, Jesus makes a statement that really sets the Pharisees off. He says, "Before Abraham was, I am!" Now, I don't think that was just a grammar slip. I think what he was doing was using God's holy name of "I AM" for himself. Is this accurate? I know that the New Testament was written in Greek and the Old Testament in Hebrew, so I don't know if that translates perfectly or not. That would be interesting to find out.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John7 - Lord, Liar, or Lunatic

Click here to read John 7:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Throughout this chapter, people are trying to figure out who Jesus is. Some said he was a good man. Others say he was a deceiver. Other's said he was crazy or demon-possessed. Others believed that he was the Messiah, the chosen one sent by God. The book Mere Christianity is a composition of teachings by C.S. Lewis. One of the propositions he makes is that it is not logically possible to think that Jesus was just "a good teacher." If he was not God, but claimed to be, he was not good. He was either a liar or a lunatic. He goes on further to say, "You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. ... Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God." To me, this chapter points out this "Trilemma", that Jesus was either Lord, liar, or lunatic, as well as any other in Scripture.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

It's also interesting that the temple guards who went to arrest Jesus ended up being amazed by him and couldn't bring themselves to go through with it. There are other similar examples of this happening in the Bible. The centurion standing at the cross said, "Surely this was the Son of God." The jailer who was keeping Paul and Silas in Acts 16 came to believe in God and he and his household were saved.

3. What does this mean for my life?

"Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." (John 7:18) I want my life to be for God's glory. If I am called to speak, may it be not so people would think more highly of me, but of God.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Multiple people were asking the question, "Shouldn't the Messiah come from Bethlehem instead of Galilee?" Wasn't there anyone that knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? What about his parents? Wouldn't his parents have said something? Wouldn't his brothers have said, "Actually he was born in Bethlehem when our mother was a virgin, after she received a vision from an angel and confirmation from shepherds and foreign dignitaries." You'd think that might have made a difference.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John6 - The Most Wonderful Bread

Click here to read John 6:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Almost the entire chapter was about bread. First Jesus feeds the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Then when the crowds find him again on the other side of the lake, they ask for more bread. Jesus calls them out on their fickle dependence on him for actual food, when they should be seeking him for eternal life. Jesus says, in essence, "God sent bread down from heaven to keep you alive from day to day, but now he has sent me so that you can be alive for all eternity. Get your eyes off the ground and your stomachs, and look up to see what God is really doing here. Even WonderBread still spoils eventually despite the added preservatives. Get some of the most wonderful bread, that will never spoil - me."

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

When Jesus talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, it sounds a little creepy and weird. It seems at first like symbolism, and then he keeps using the same language and carries it to a point where it has to still be symbolism, but doesn't sound much like it anymore. But it did make me think of Holy Communion and the Last Supper. Jesus broke the bread and said, "Take and eat, this is my body given for you." He also took the cup of wine and said, "This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood...drink of it." It sounds very similar, and reminds us that we need Jesus at every turn.

3. What does this mean for my life?

For this question, I look at the scene at the end of the chapter where many disciples desert Jesus. He then turns to the twelve remaining and asks why they haven't left yet. Peter (often the first to reply) said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." As I have experienced more of life and simultaneously become more acquainted with the Bible, I find myself thinking the same thing. "Where else am I going to go? God is the only thing that actually makes life make sense. Life as revealed in the Bible is the only one worth living."

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

How do the two concepts Jesus teaches about those who believe have eternal life, and that God is the one who draws them in make sense together? It sounds a little contradictory, but I'm just curious how they really fit together.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John5 - Testify!

Click here to read John 5:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

This chapter was again filled with directives to believe in Jesus. It's amazing how much that word has come up in just five chapters of this gospel. But besides that this piece about Jesus having testimony about him really intrigued me. In the culture of that day, there weren't news camera's on every corner. There wasn't Facebook or Instagram or Twitter to spread the word about something. There weren't camera's on everyone's cell phones to capture visual proof of events. Instead, people relied almost entirely on the witness and testimony of others. Jesus is saying that there are really three major testimonies verifying that Jesus is the Son of God. John the Baptist verbally testified that Jesus is the Messiah, God the Father testified about him through the obvious and miraculous work Jesus was doing, and the Scriptures even testified about him. He is trying to use human reasoning to convince the hard-hearted that he really is who he says he is.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

When Jesus healed the invalid by the pool, the man went away and obeyed Jesus fully. Despite the Jewish leaders who were appalled that this healing happened on the Sabbath, Jesus meets up with this guy later and tells him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." This reminds me of how Jesus handled the situation with the adulterous woman. After he restored her dignity, he said, "Now go and sin no more," or "Go now and leave your life of sin." Jesus doesn't condone sin. He doesn't just dismiss it as okay. But he still offers healing, hope, and salvation to all of us despite our sin. The question is, will we repent, believe in Jesus, and live our life for him?

3. What does this mean for my life?

The way Jesus describes his relationship with God the Father made me realize that I need to let go of some things and really let God have control of my life. "...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." I want to be able to say of my life, "Dan can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does Dan also does." That would be the ultimate aim of our sanctification, the process God uses to transform us more and more into his image.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What was Jesus talking about when he said he was going to the dead, and that the dead would hear the voice of God and believe and live. Was he speaking of his death? Like apostles creed "he descended into hell," stuff? That was a little confusing.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John4 - Ultimate Thirst Quencher

Click here to read John 4:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

In this story, this woman encounters Jesus and shares about it with her village. The people come out and encounter Jesus for themselves, and many become believers. They make a statement that really stuck out to me as I read the chapter: "We know that this man really is the Savior of the world." That statement would be pretty incredible all by itself. However, the little bit of background I know about this story makes it even more incredible. Jews hated Samaritans and avoided them at all costs, literally. They would take a long route around the Samaritan land rather than take the quicker major road right through it. So the fact that Jesus is preaching to the Samaritans who believe in his name and receive salvation really emphasizes that it is for the whole world. It crosses racial/ethnic boundaries. Since Jesus is talking to a woman (also frowned upon in their culture) we know that God's salvation crosses barriers of sex as well. Besides that, this woman was likely not an upstanding citizen, since she had five husbands and was now living with someone she wasn't married to. So Jesus reminds us that his love crosses all kinds of barriers that people tend to put up.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

When Jesus was talking about living water and how it would quench our thirst forever, I thought of a psalm that also compared a longing for God to hunger and thirst. Psalm 63:1 says, "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." Jesus used real life examples that were right around him like Jacob's well to "draw out" (pun fully intended) spiritual truths.

3. What does this mean for my life?

The woman at the well had every reason not to go share about Jesus with the village. She was probably an outcast. She would probably be ridiculed again. She would probably be rejected again. Nobody would likely believe her. But she did anyway, and whatever she shared with the villagers and however she shared it, they believed her enough to come see for themselves. I need to stop letting my fears and anxieties about what might happen keep me from inviting others into the presence of Jesus. Whether that means inviting them to church, to a Bible Study, to camp, or simply into a personal relationship with Jesus, I need to be unashamed.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I know I didn't really comment at all about the last story in the chapter, but my question still goes back to the Samaritans. What happened after they became believers? The Bible doesn't really say; it just moves on to the next story. I wonder if they started a new church. How did they worship? Did many of them start to follow Jesus literally around the countryside?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John3 - There's a reason...

Click here to read John 3:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

There is a reason John 3:16 is one of the most well known (and often displayed) verses from the Bible. Going into the reading of this chapter, I knew that John 3:16 was coming. I know it. I've heard it. I have it memorized, like many Christians and non-Christians alike. I tried to move past it, but it really is the center of the chapter. Not just verse 16, but the few verses immediately following it as well. In fact, verse 17 expounds on the first part of 16, and verse 18 clarifies the second part. Jesus came not to bring judgment (this time) but salvation. Hence his mission and resolve to die on the cross for our sins. But verse 18 makes it clear that that salvation is offered to all who believe. For those who do not believe, there is condemnation. This is clarified at the end of the chapter in verse 36, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:16 says in one verse what all of Scripture is set up to explain. There's a reason we see it so much. If someone were just being introduced to Christianity, this is a great start. So I really admire people that bring the signs to games like this, although I would hope the sign holders would use some discretion and not totally block the view of the people around them for very long. That would be annoying, and could have a reverse effect of winning people to Jesus. :)

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

This made me think of other places in Scripture that really share the gospel clearly in one or two sentences. Here are a couple others I can think of that are similar:

Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

1 John 1:8-9 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 5:12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I don't think I could share about this chapter and not mention one of my favorite verses from Scripture that really shaped my life and ministry. Obviously we look to Jesus as an example for life, but it's depressing comparing ourselves to Jesus all the time. So I really like looking at other people in the Bible, and John the Baptist is one of my favorites. In John 3:22-30, John the Baptist is confronted by someone who is basically saying, "Hey John, this Jesus fellow, the one you were talking about - He's baptizing now too. And teaching. And performing miracles. People are flocking to him. Aren't you worried? or upset? or jealous?" His reply was something like this, "Are you kidding? My whole life's purpose is to point people to Jesus. Now that he's here in the flesh, I couldn't be happier that people are going to him. In fact, if things are going right, he will rise up and I will fade away. Glory be to God!" I love that. I want my life to be like that. If nobody remembers my name, and nobody remembers my love for pizza, and nobody remembers my weird fingers, but people are drawn to Jesus because of my life, I will die in peace. (I can live in peace with that too).

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

When Nicodemus, a Pharisee and council member, came to Jesus initially, he said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God..." If they knew that, why didn't they all listen to him and believe in him?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John2 - Can you believe it?

Click here to read John 2:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

After each major event John describes in this chapter, he makes a special note of all those who believe in Jesus or believe in his name. I noticed it in this chapter, but it is obviously a theme throughout the book of John. In this case, the disciples began to believe in him, early on. Then, as he performed other miracles and traveled around teaching, many people saw him and believed in him.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

I mentioned this is a theme in the book of John, and I can think of three other specific instances where this theme of believing. John 1:7&14 both ring out the goal of the gospel of John, that people might believe in Jesus. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." Again at the end of John in chapter 20 verse 31, he clearly states his hopes for the readers of the gospel. "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." And the most famous of the believing verses in John 3:16, of course.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Above all else - all understanding, all striving, all education, all tasks, all "missions", all relationships, all hardships, all doubts, and all fears, I need to simply believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and find all life in him.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What is the meaning of the last two verses in this chapter? "Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person."

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John1 - The Most Powerful Word Ever...

Click here to read John 1:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

The beginning of John is a very poetic, artsy description of Jesus coming to this earth. Where Matthew and Luke begin with the facts about the birth of Jesus, and Mark skips it altogether, the gospel of John begins with a more abstract introduction to the person of Jesus. John says that he is the Word. John says that the Word was with God, the Word was God, and that everything was made through the Word. God did create the universe through his words (speaking). God used words many times to get the attention of His people. But this Word was easily the most powerful word ever. The following emphasis sums up a lot of things about Jesus being the Word:

In John, [logos] denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

John the Baptist refers to Jesus twice here as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. I think of two different references to the old testament here. One was in Egypt, when the Spirit of God came down to kill the firstborn male of every household in Egypt. The Spirit passed by any house that had the blood of lamb smeared across the doorway, showing a sacrifice to God. (Exodus Secondly, in Leviticus 16:9-10, the Jewish law provided a goat to be used as a sacrifice for sins. Ultimately, the sins of the whole community were "placed" on the goat and when it wandered away, it removed the sin from the community. Jesus really embodied both of those concepts.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I am struck here by John the Baptist and his consistency in pointing people to Jesus. He was a big deal, a rising star, but at every opportunity he humbly shared his own ministry and then told people that Jesus was the real deal. I need to adopt John the Baptist's mode of operation. To be full of witness and truth to who Jesus really is, and really not caring of who or how many follow me.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I wonder what Jesus meant at the very end when he said to Nathaniel, "You will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." Was this part of his ministry on earth, or was he talking about a future time in heaven?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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Easter's Over. Now What?

It's April 6, 2015. Yesterday was Easter Sunday. We just finished celebrating the life, death, and resurrection of Christ in what seems like the most intense week of the year in the church calendar. But now that we know Jesus didn't stay dead, that he in fact rose from the dead and appeared to many people before he ascended into heaven, we look around (much like the disciples did) and ask, "Now what?" It may seem like a dumb question, but in a way it is one of the most important questions we will ever ask ourselves.

Jesus answered that question for the disciples. He said, "Go. But Wait. Then Go." (Very paraphrased). He gave the disciples their mission. He commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize and teach in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He ordained them as apostles and witnesses to all that God had done. He gave them a purpose and a direction. But then he backed up and explained that step 1 of this plan was to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and empower this mission. Step 2 was...well...there was no Step 2 other than trust the Holy Spirit to guide them to do what Jesus just told them to do.

So what does that mean for us? The Holy Spirit has now been given to all who believe in Jesus as Lord, yet in a way, we still need to follow Jesus to wait. Not for days or months until we receive the Holy Spirit, but we need to take time every day to connect with God and get on the same page. We often just try to do as much as we can, but we often forget to stop first and ask for directions. Although these answers may sound like they came from an average children's sermon, we need to make sure we are connecting with God through prayer, reading Scripture, and connecting with other believers so that we can be filled with His heart, His character, and His strength to persevere.

So pause, connect with God, and ask for directions. Keep seeking him each day and discerning His will for your life. You will never regret it.

Tomorrow, I will start reading through the gospel of John, which is the last of the four gospels. Feel free to join me as I dig into a chapter a day.

Those are my thoughts for today. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#Easter2015 - Happy Easter from Dan's Daily Dig!

Happy Easter everyone! Hear these awesome words about the resurrection from 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, and enjoy an awesome song from Matt Maher.

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h]

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Dan

#Luke24 - Jesus vs. Devil Showdown via the Matrix

Click here to read Luke 24:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Jesus was betrayed, deserted, denied, arrested, beaten, flogged, mocked, crucified and buried. It was horrible what people did to him. From an earthly perspective, it seemed as though the devil won. I think that from the devil's perspective, he probably thought he won too. Little did anyone know, that God had planned from the beginning that the chosen one, the Messiah/Christ, the Savior of the world would have to die to bring life. It seems ironic, but Jesus died to become the sacrifice that would atone (pay the penalty for) all of our sin. It HAD to be that way. So once again, God was able to work his will through the variety of righteous and evil actions of humans. One of the best movies that I've seen that captures this same redemptive plot line is the Matrix. In the third movie, Matrix Revolutions, Neo (which means New) is battling the ultimate enemy. Feel free to watch the quick clip to see why it corresponds, or watch all three movies for a great sci-fi action adventure.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

The ending of the chapter (which is the ending to the book of Luke) is slightly different wording, but the same events as the beginning of the book of Acts. If you were not previously aware of this, Luke is also the author of the book of Acts. It's like he set out to write a detailed scholarly account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but he couldn't stop there. He had to continue with the account of this rag-tag group of misfits who were transformed by Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit into preachers, teachers, healers, apostles, leaders, servants, church-planters, and more. I started this blogging journey in the book of Acts, otherwise I would love to just keep reading that like a continuous story line.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I think about the road to Emmaus story often. These two followers of Jesus were with the 12 disciples. They knew a lot about Jesus and were committed to him. But they still had questions, doubts, and confusion about what was actually going on. Jesus used this opportunity to set them straight. He explained to them from Scripture everything that had been written about himself. This walking Bible study session rekindled their fire and energy about following Jesus and they were transformed into passionate believers in Jesus and the resurrection. God's word has the power to seep into our souls, our minds, and our hearts to transform us and make us new. This is what drives me to keep doing this blog, even though it is almost never convenient. It always means less sleep and/or less free time, but I want so bad for God's word to weave into every fiber of my being so that I can experience the promise of Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I know in 1 Corinthians 15: 5-8 we read that Christ appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection. But that is still a very small amount. Why didn't Jesus show himself to the chief priests? To all of Jerusalem? To Pontius Pilate? To Herod? To Caesar? Wouldn't more people have believed in him right away? Wouldn't there have been almost universal acceptance and understanding of Jesus as the Messiah? I don't understand God's plan to just reveal himself to a few, but those few were obviously truthful in their account. If Jesus hadn't been resurrected, there's no way they would have been killed for a lie. Their very lives are a testimony. That doesn't mean I understand why God did it that way. It's a mystery to me.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

#Luke23 - Dead Set on his Mission

Click here to read Luke 23:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

As I read the account of Jesus trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus, what stood out to me most was the pure hatred and utter rejection of the religious leaders. In verse 10, it says they were "vehemently accusing him." In verse 23 it says that "with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed." They were dead set against Jesus, and they won...or so they thought. I don't know what I would have done if I were in their shoes, but I'm sure glad Jesus died so my hard heart could be made alive again. Even though they were dead set against Jesus, he was dead set on his mission to restore us to God through his death on the cross.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Someone today made an interesting observation about the thief on the right and the thief on the left being similar to how Jesus described the judgment being like separating sheep and goats. The righteous (those who believed, repented, and lived their life for Jesus) were on one side, and those who rejected Jesus were on the other. I had never made that connection before. I thought it was worth mentioning.

3. What does this mean for my life?

When Jesus was on the cross, he forgave those who mocked and tortured him, and they didn't ever ask for it. They never sat down and confessed their sin. Jesus still pleaded with the Father to forgive them. It's easy to think that we shouldn't forgive someone unless they admit their wrong first, but that only builds up resentment and bitterness inside. I need to remember to be quick to forgive.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

On the way to Golgotha, Jesus gave a mini speech, in which he told the women not to weep for him, because times are gonna get worse. In fact, he said there will be a time when it would be better for women not to have children. What time was he talking about? Or was this just a way to say, there will always be evil, and it will only get worse?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#Luke22 - When Darkness Reigns

Click here to read Luke 22:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Perhaps it was because I read this right after seeing a Living Last Supper drama. Perhaps it was because I am reading this on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Perhaps it was because I am not as familiar with the gospel of Luke as much as the other gospels. Or perhaps because of this journey I'm on to dig daily into God's word, I am noticing more details as I read the familiar stories. Whatever the reason or combination of factors, reading this chapter tonight felt more personal and emotional. I noticed that Jesus was agonizing in telling his disciples about the Passover feast and his suffering. I noticed the earnestness in Jesus' prayer in the garden. I noticed the exclamation marks when Jesus was telling the disciples to put away their swords. Finally I noticed the sentence that defined the next couple of days for Jesus in verse 53. "This is your hour - when darkness reigns." It was a literal darkness, since they came to arrest him at night when nobody would notice them, but it was also a spiritually dark time when the Son of God would be humiliated and killed.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Ephesians 5:8-12, Paul encourages Christians to live as children of light, since we are now light in the Lord. He goes on to warn Christians not to have anything to do with the "fruitless deeds of darkness." It just seems to be that the physical darkness and spiritual darkness may not be all that disconnected. It seems that much of what is spiritually dark is done when it is physically dark because, as Paul also mentions in this passage, "It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." If you want something to be secret, you do it in the dark. That was really an interesting connection.

3. What does this mean for my life?

As a personal application of this, another passage came into my head from Romans 6:11-13. Here's what it says.

"11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness."

I need to be on guard that I don't give in to the temptation to obey these desires of darkness, but rather dedicate my body and life to do what is right in God's sight.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I don't understand what Jesus was trying to say about selling your cloak and buying a sword. I don't think the disciples did either, because they apparently scrounged up two swords, but Jesus said, "That's enough!" Later he rebuked the disciples for using their swords. I bet they were confused then too.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#Luke21 - THE END OF THE WORLD!

Click here to read Luke 21:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Well, aside from the lesson on giving, this chapter is really about the end times. It's a tricky passage, because many people want to try and interpret the passage to discern what exact world events they are pointing to. Plus there are words used here by Jesus that could be figurative (like "soon" and "generation") or they could be literal. The other challenge is that with prophesy in the Bible, sometimes there was a literal "real-time" fulfillment of the prophecy as well as a future, more complete fulfillment of the prophecy. The temple in Jerusalem was actually destroyed in 70 A.D., while at least some of the disciples were indeed still living. But I don't believe that the end of the world has come and gone because...well...we're still here. Every generation since Jesus has reasoned that some event in their era was the fulfillment of these words (and others), and every generation has come and gone. So while I don't think that it is helpful to try and predict the end of the world, I simply trust Jesus when he basically says, "If you have to ask whether or not it's me, it's not me. When I come, everyone will know."

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

There are other passages about the "end times." Revelation is a book of prophecy filled with descriptions of what the end times are like. Specifically though, this chapter talked about Jerusalem being surrounded on all sides by armies (v.20), plus earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and fearful events and great signs from heaven (v.11). Many of these same descriptions are used in Revelation 16 when God begins to judge the world and the nations gather to a battleground called Armageddon. Revelation is a crazy, weird, confusing book. But there are some great truths from it as well. God wins in the end, and it is those who repent and cry out to the Lord who are rescued. those who are not willing to repent will perish.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Verse 19 really caught my attention as I read through it. "Stand firm, and you will win life." That is what I want. That is what everyone really wants, right? Stand firm in our faith. Do not give in to the patterns and behaviors of this world, and we will be able to stand before Jesus on judgment day - not righteous because of our works, but righteous because of His works and our unwavering faith in him.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What questions don't I have about this passage? I have so many questions, none of which I believe will be fully answered until the other side of death. Actually, many of my question are the same as the disciples'. When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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